National women’s U17 football team, Junior Starlets, are two matches away from back-to-back FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualification. Up against Cameroon on Sunday 20 April at Nyayo National Stadium for the first leg of the decisive qualifier, with the return fixture scheduled for Friday, 25 April in Yaoundé, head coach Mildred Cheche has tipped Starlets’ team work to carry the day. Follow our WhatsApp channel for more newsKakamega Homeboyz goalkeeper opens up on Rising Stars exclusionA win, on aggregate, for Kenya will secure them a coveted spot in the U17 Women’s World Cup, set for Friday 17 October to Saturday 8 November in Morocco. “We expect a very competitive match as both teams are equally good. We have prepared tactically and will carry the day. We have changed a few things ahead of the game, after the previous round, and I am confident in the team’s abilities,” the newly-crowned SOYA Coach of the Year offered on the sidelines of the team’s final training session on Saturday. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8867651##Cheche’s charges booked their ticket to the final qualifying round following a dominant 5-0 show against East African rivals Uganda. The team is fresh from two friendly matches against hosts Morocco, playing for a one-all draw on 4 April, before beating the North Africans 2-0 in the return match played on 8 April at the Mohammed VI Sports Complex. Against Cameroon, Junior Starlets face a side that is undoubtedly physically advantaged, but the tactician maintains that her charges are better tactically, and will be ready for whatever the Central Africans throw at them. Why Chepngetich, Jepchirchir withdrew from London Marathon”Despite their size, my players are gifted tactically and we play as a unit. The other team has players that are brilliant individually, but we will look to counter that with team play, a strategy that has worked against similar opponents. Since last year my players have been grounded against any opponent, and we will build on that for a positive result,” Cheche said. Meanwhile, defender Lorrine Ilavonga says the team is prepared mentally, tipping the friendlies in Morocco as a great motivation and confidence booster for the youngsters ahead of the Cameroon clash. Nyayo Stadium is the place to be this Sunday! 😁Junior Starlets wakipambana na Cameroon mbona mkose? Tickets🎟️ 👉 https://t.co/x2aSKkySWc or Dial: *519*55#Regular: 100VIP: 2000VVIP: 5000🚫 No ticket sales on matchday so hurry and get yours today! #GoJuniorStarlets pic.twitter.com/IF8BITl9rG— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) April 18, 2025 “I believe in the squad we have. Morale in camp is high and everyone is ready to give the match their all. We go up against a bigger and taller opponent, and that means avoiding aerial balls and being smart on the pitch,” Ilavonga, who features for FKF Women Premier League side Ulinzi Starlets in the national league said. Kickoff on Sunday is at 1500 EAT.
